WHO WE ARE
Fit To The Core Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2020 to expand access to functional fitness and healthy-aging education for older adults, particularly those living in under-resourced communities.
We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to age with strength, confidence, and independence—regardless of income or ZIP code.
Through free community fitness classes, walking programs, and educational workshops, we help older adults improve strength, balance, mobility, and overall well-being while building meaningful social connections.
Founded by Tracie VanHook, MS, a fitness professional with more than 40 years of experience and specialized training in functional aging, Fit To The Core is committed to making healthy aging accessible, empowering, and community-centered.
It Started With
My Mother
Long before Fit To The Core existed, my mother showed me that movement could be more than exercise.
Growing up in a community where fitness opportunities were limited, I watched her bring friends, neighbors, and coworkers together for weekly walks. They laughed, encouraged one another, and built lasting friendships through movement.
Those walks changed how I saw exercise. What once felt like punishment became a source of connection, confidence, and joy.
More than four decades later, that same spirit lives at the heart of Fit To The Core.
I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to age with strength, dignity, independence, and community—regardless of income or ZIP code.
WHAT WE OFFER
Our Programs
Helping older adults build strength, confidence, and independence through free community-based fitness and wellness programs
Functional Fitness for Independent Aging
The Movement: Community Walking Groups
Longevity Workshops
Core Values
Professionalism
We bring decades of expertise in exercise science and functional aging to deliver safe, effective, evidence-informed programs that help older adults maintain strength, mobility, and independence.
Collaboration
We partner with community members, volunteers, and organizations to expand access to healthy-aging education and create meaningful opportunities for connection and well-being.
Integrity
We lead with honesty, transparency, and accountability, honoring the trust of our participants, community partners, and supporters.
Compassion
We meet older adults with empathy, dignity, and respect, creating welcoming spaces where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered.
Innovation
We embrace research, community feedback, and creative approaches to help older adults develop practical skills for healthier, more independent aging.
OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT
Since 2020, Fit To The Core has served more than 500 older adults through community-based movement programs, healthy-aging education, and meaningful partnerships. Our mission goes beyond exercise—we teach practical skills that help older adults build strength, confidence, and independence.
500+
Older Adults Served Since 2020
115+
Participants Served in 2026
136
Program Activities in 2026
FIT FOR LIFE: LONGEVITY EDITION
Fit for Life brings free, community-based functional fitness and healthy-aging education to older adults in East Palo Alto.
Through movement classes and interactive workshops, participants develop practical skills to improve strength, balance, mobility, and fall prevention while building confidence in everyday activities.
2025–2026 Program Highlights
47 community fitness classes delivered
5 healthy-aging workshops conducted
2 Senior Center pilot classes offered
More than exercise, Fit for Life empowers older adults with the knowledge, skills, and community connections that support healthier, more independent aging.
Intergenerational Fitness in the Park
In 2022, Fit To The Core partnered with Youth Community Service (YCS) of East Palo Alto to bring generations together through outdoor fitness and community connection.
Held at Joel Davis Park, this summer initiative welcomed children, adults, and older residents for accessible movement activities that encouraged physical fitness, friendship, and shared experiences.
More than 300 participants took part in the initiative, demonstrating the power of movement to strengthen community connections across generations.